ktcolt's Profile

I have a bread toaster...I want an oven/toaster (mini oven appliance) that sits on the counter. I want it do things like toast up and melt cheese on sandwiches, quick mini meals when I dont want to fire up the oven...here in AZ with temps hovering around 110F ....

I need a toaster oven. The kind where you open the door and slide your food onto a mini rack or sheet. What to look for? Which features are must have? Which brands are the best bang for your buck? It doesn't have to be fancy WS or LST stuff...just Target or Walmart is fine!

What about the Goodwill or other used goods stores? Whenever I go into one of them I always see teacups and saucers. Ross and TJMaxx have nice china sometimes too. Hit or miss but check em out periodically.

Anything chicken. You can just salt and pepper up 8-10 chicken breasts on Sunday night and bake and freeze them up for the week. You can defrost a breast or two before leaving for work in the mornings and make things like chicken salad, lemon chicken, slice em up for chicken on top of a bed of greens, saute up some button mushrooms in butter and drizzle over a warmed breast....and the list could go on!

I want to begin a tradition with my son who is starting kindergarten this week and I saw on a blog that someone made a cake the eve before the first day of school to celebrate the exciting new grade the kids were to embark upon. Since my son is young, I was thinking a crayon cake would be fun but I am cake frosting challenged! I "think" I can make the cake in shape of a crayon but how to frost it?

I want to begin a tradition with my son who is starting kindergarten this week and I saw on a blog that someone made a cake the eve before the first day of school to celebrate the exciting new grade the kids were to embark upon. Since my son is young, I was thinking a crayon cake would be fun but I am cake frosting challenged! I "think" I can make the cake in shape of a crayon but how to frost it?

Holy Cow! Do NOT spend $250 on a crock pot. There are some kitchen appliances out there that would warrant a price tag like that and a crock pot is not one of them! If you have a gift card to WS go for something more chic that you cant get in the Target or Walmarts....if you want the crock pot and have never had one...spend the $30 bucks out of pocket at Target or Walmart first to see if you even like it. IF you like it, it wont hurt to have two! I could think of a thousand things to buy at WS and a crock pot or pressure cooker is NOT one of them!! Good luck and let us know either way what you decide to do!!!

I have a flat top...which I hate...but I use my cast iron skillet, dutch oven, and grill/griddle on it and I have no problems...BUT take care to not just throw it down on the glass top as is easy to do with heavy pans like that. I have heard of the glass top cracking before due to carelessness with cast iron. Use it and enjoy!!

I am trying to find a nice place to go for cocktails and apps or lite dinner and music in North Scottsdale. Any ideas at the Market Street on Pima? Done the whole Carefree/Cave Creek thing but we dont want to go all the way into mid to south Scottsdale.

Yes, their atmosphere is very nice and their food is great...all ala carte...and an average steak is approx $40 bucks for one. Going there will cost you but the lighting is low and the service is impeccable.

I don't want to sound totally obtuse here BUT...if you are going to TJ's...why not buy up 7 already prepared meals that TJ's sells in the refrigerated department? Totally fabulous...quality good...freeze the end of the week meals and take them out the morning of before leaving for work! After heating up...the only work necessary is popping the cork of some good wine!!

Soooooooo compared to oils and lipids out there that we all cook with...olive...vegetable...canola...safflower....seasame....butter...crisco...etc...where does coconut oil rank in terms of health benefits...better or worse than the above? What do you cook with? I appreciate your passion in trying to explain all this...but is your bottom line?! :o)

Wow! This thread took on a life of it's own. I wish there was one go-to source that would be the end all be all of information. There seems to be no middle ground. Either they (internet research) think it is the evil of evil in terms of oil or they think it is more healthful than most oils. I say everything in moderation. Thanks to all comments!!

I have no idea where I found these articles. I dont think I can duplicate it again. I agree that coconut oil must be high in fat....I was just under the impression it is a better fat than others. I dont know...as my OP said...it was the FIRST time I had seen or bought it! I am totally open to info that is accurate and the like!! It was a curiosity and a love for coconut the fruit that prompted me buying the oil!

Hmmmmmmmm...I am actually finding just the opposite in terms of information on the net that contradicts what everyone seems to be saying. Until I read the posts here...I didnt look on the net as I never even saw coconut oil in the supermarkets! Here is what I found:

Now lets tell you a little bit about coconut oil.

Coconut oil is one of the most stable oils you can buy. It does not turn rancid easily. It does not attack your arteries. In fact, coconut oil was one of the foods Weston Price studied in his journeys. He discovered that the coconut was considered, by the local populations, a medicine food. He found that those civilizations that consumed coconut regularly had no knowledge of cancer, heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes.

Let’s take a look at the healing properties of coconut oil:

* Coconut oil is antiviral, antifungal (kills yeast too) and antibacterial. It attacks and kills viruses that have a lipid (fatty) coating, such as herpes, HIV, hepatitis C, the flu, and mononucleosis. It kills the bacteria that cause pneumonia, sore throats, dental cavities, urinary tract infections, meningitis, gonorrhea, food poisoning, pneumonia, and many, many more bacterial infections. It kills the fungus/yeast infections that cause candida, ringworm, athletes foot, thrush, jock itch, diaper rash and more. * Coconut oil is called the "low fat" fat. It actually acts like a carbohydrate in that it is quickly broken down in the liver and used as quick energy. It is NOT stored like other fats. It boosts one’s energy and endurance. Many athletes use it blended into their drinks. It also supports thyroid function and increases your metabolism (great if you want to lose weight). * Coconut oil improves digestion and absorption of fat soluble vitamins, minerals (especially calcium and magnesium), and amino acids. It improves the body’s use of blood glucose and improves insulin secretion and absorption (great for type II diabetes). In fact, many diabetics (type I and type II) use it to reduce their symptoms. One’s risk of diabetes decreases with regular use of coconuts and coconut oil. And as we already mentioned, cooking with coconut oil does not create any harmful byproducts. * Coconut oil helps the body heal and repair faster. It aids and supports immune function, protecting us from a variety of cancers. * Coconut oil, contrary to much hubbub, is good for your heart. It keeps our blood platelets from sticking together (and causing dangerous clots). Regular users of coconut oils have a much lower chance of atherosclerosis (clogging of the arteries), arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), and strokes. Coconut oil can lower your blood pressure. * Coconut oil is a natural antioxidant. It protects the body from free radical damage and prevents premature aging and degenerative diseases. * Finally, coconut oil is the best massage oil on the planet. What it does to your skin, you simply have to witness. It forms a barrier against infections, softens and moisturizes your skin, and prevents wrinkling, sagging, and age spots. It promotes healthy hair and complexion, protects from any damaging UV rays. (It is used in Ron Salley’s products.)

So? How come we don’t know about coconut oil? In our research, we discovered that coconut oil was attacked by the oil industry as being an "artery clogger." While doing this research, we were contacted by Bruce Fife, ND, who sent us a copy of his book to review: The Healing Miracles of Coconut Oil.